Reddit CEO says some content may soon be behind paywall: 'Working on it as we speak'
A new feature coming to Reddit potentially in 2025 would put some of its content behind paywalls.
Since it launched in 2005, the social media site has always been free to access, but the company has experimented throughout the years with a variety of ways for users to pay for special features.
Now, Reddit is preparing to require payment before users can access some content.
Reddit CEO Steve Huffman alluded to the feature, which could roll out later this year, in a video Ask Me Anything (AMA) session he hosted Thursday following the company’s quarterly earnings report.
Huffman described the paid content model as a “work in progress,” but said it would be introduced in 2025.
What is Reddit? CEO said paid subreddits coming in 2025
Reddit, founded nearly 20 years ago, includes a wide variety of forums – known as subreddits – dedicated to virtually every topic that invites users to post content and rate the content others share with so-called "upvotes" and "downvotes."
Some new subreddits, though, may have content only accessible for paying customers.
Huffman discussed the upcoming “paid subreddits” feature in response to a user's question about people creating content that only paying subscribers can see. Prompted by a follow-up question about "new key features" planned for 2025, Huffman further confirmed the paywall system is planned for before the end of the year.
"That one's coming," Huffman said. "We're working on it as we speak."
Reddit has introduced other premium content before
The paywall system is the latest feature Huffman has prioritized for Reddit that would require payment to access.
The company has for years sold a subscription called Reddit Gold that includes an ad-free scrolling experience for users among its offerings. Reddit has also previously launched a Contributor Program, where popular posts can make Reddit users money.
One of the first times Huffman publicly discussed the paywall feature came in August during an earnings call. At the time, Huffman said the company was looking into developing a new type of subreddit that would include “exclusive content or private areas” hidden behind a paywall, according to Ars Technica, an outlet covering technology.
"I think the existing altruistic, free version of Reddit will continue to exist and grow and thrive just the way it has," Huffman told investors, Ars Technica reported. "But now we will unlock the door for new use cases, new types of subreddits that can be built."
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com